SARASOTA, Fla. — Two weeks before camp breaks, the Blue Jays have announced their pitching plans for opening day against the Detroit Tigers.

And sure enough, it will be Stro Time.

Indeed, all the work paid off for Marcus Stroman to achieve his first goal of the 2019 season. The two-a-day workouts, the yoga, the mobility drills, the time spent in his own personal hyperbaric chamber, the visit with Duke basketball coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski … it all helped get his body and mind right the for spring training.

The rest followed naturally.

Prior to his fourth straight strong outing, Stroman was named the Blue Jays opening day pitcher for the second time in his career.The first was in 2016, when he threw eight innings en route to a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

This one will be at home, Mar. 28. This one is something he wanted very badly.

“It’s an honour,” Stroman said after giving up one run and two hits while striking out six over 4.1 innings against the Orioles in Sarasota on Wednesday. “Something you strive for. Something that I always kind of pride myself on. I’m just excited to feel the electricity, the energy of Toronto, of Canada, when I get out there on the mound.

“I’ve pitched in some pretty big moments before,” he added. “I’m not shy of the moment. I think I thrive off energy and emotion, so I’m excited. I can’t wait to be out there.”

Stroman, who will become the 10th pitcher to draw multiple opening day assignments for the franchise, has anxiously awaited a chance to get his career back on track.

Last year, shoulder and blister problems kept him to just 102 innings, or half of what he pitched the previous two seasons.

He also went 4-9 with a 5.54 ERA — numbers he’s in a hurry to forget.

“I’m ready to pitch,” said Stroman, “regardless of where I am in the rotation. Like I said, I put a huge emphasis on getting back to where I was, and I’m there. So regardless of when you give me the ball, I’m going to go out there and have that mentality to dominate.”

The decision between Stroman and Aaron Sanchez was not an easy one for manager Charlie Montoyo, pitching coach Pete Walker and GM Ross Atkins.

“Stroman is the right guy,” Montoyo said when making it official.

Said Walker: “Every time you’ve got two guys like Sanchez and Stroman, obviously when they’re healthy, as far as I’m concerned, they’re as good as there is out there. I think Sanchey might have been a click behind early in camp, and gave him the extra live BP. That’s about the main reason.

“But they’re both certainly capable of doing that and holding on to that top spot in the rotation. Once the season starts it doesn’t matter.”

Montoyo said he talked to Sanchez about the decision before it was announced.

“Whatever I do, I always think as a player,” said Montoyo. “So that’s why we talked to Sanchez, to make sure he knows we were going to give it to Stroman. He’s fine.

“I did talk to people before. It’s almost like when I was in triple-A and I’d tell you you’re going up to the big leagues, and then I’ve got to talk to somebody else who’s not very happy (it wasn’t him being promoted) that he didn’t get the shot. It’s the same way here. You’ve got to communicate.”

Saying Clay Buchholz will not be ready to start the season, Montoyo has pencilled in a rotation that, after Stroman, has Matt Shoemaker second, followed by Sanchez, Ryan Borucki and Clayton Richard.

“I like the fact of splitting Stroman and Sanchez, because they’re kind of the same type of pitchers … sinker-ballers and stuff,” said Montoyo. “So I want to have somebody in between that’s different, and Shoemaker’s the guy that can do that.”

Stroman, meanwhile, is yearning for the spotlight. After five post-season starts, he is comfortable with it shining on him.

“Opening day is alway huge,” he said. “Opening day, Canada Day, obviously playoffs … but like I said there’s no more electricity than 50,000 packed into the Rogers Centre. It’s one of the loudest environments I’ve ever played in, and like I said something I thrive off of. I can’t wait to see all the Canadians out there, yelling and screaming and going crazy.”

And a chance to start down the road to what he believes can lead to greatness.

“I know where I can be in this game and I’m not there yet,” said Stroman. “I’m going to do everything in my power to go out there and be consistent, and put together year after year after year.

“Like I said, I haven’t done it yet. I’ve had it in spurts, but I’m getting close to where I’m going to start putting some years together. Hopefully I’ll be an elite pitcher in the game.”

BACK TO SCHOOL

Prior to spring training Stroman visited Duke University, his alma mater, took in a basketball game and learned some lessons from ‘Coach K.’ Initially he was hesitant to share what they chatted about.

“Coach K took the time to talk to me after practice, probably 30-45 minutes,” said Stroman. “I didn’t ask him to do that. That was something he came over and he did, and it was the most unbelievable conversation I’ve had. I had my notes and I wrote down as much as I could when I got done with that convo. He just taught me how to put life in perspective.

“I took as much as I can from him, and I kind of hear Coach K’s voice, running over my head, certain things that hit home. And like I said, I’ll definitely take that to heart, and take that with me in my life.”

GOING DEEP

Against the Orioles, Stroman had a perfect run going through 3.2, until he called for a high infield pop. He kept backing up and backing up, until he collided with second baseman Cavan Biggio, who clearly didn’t hear him. The error was charged to Stroman, who promptly struck out the next batter. Rowdy Tellez put his arm around Stroman’s shoulder as the two had a laugh walking back to the dugout … Montoyo says Stroman will get one more start, with a pitch limit of 80, and probably work another one or two innings before the season starts … Vying to land a utility job with the Jays, veteran Eric Sogard delivered a two-run double to the right field corner in the second … Of the Jays’ 10 hits, collecting two each were Bo Bichette, Tellez and Jonathan Davis … Making the defensive play of the day, a diving catch in centre-field, was Chavez Young.

POMPEY HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE

Being a Canadian with a spot on the Blue Jays opening day roster — one of only two, alongside John Axford — is not the biggest goal for Dalton Pompey.

The 26-year old Mississauga-born outfielder just wants a job in the majors. Here, there, anywhere.

“It’s always cool to wear the Blue Jays colours and to be able to play for Canada’s only team, but I’m at the point in my career now where I just want an opportunity,” Pompey said before the Jays] 6-4 Grapefruit League loss Baltimore Orioles here on Wednesday. “I just want to be able to play, and I want to make the most of my career. I’m 26 now and time is ticking. So I just want to make the most of it, wherever that is.”

As far as a move back home in April goes, it’s now or never for Pompey. A 16th-round pick of the Jays in 2010, he is out of options. If he doesn’t break camp with Toronto as a member of the 25-man roster, he has to be put on waivers.

For Pompey, this is less of a concern than a situation he relishes.

“A lot of guys look forward to this point, just because you kind of force the team to make a decision on you,” said Pompey. “Obviously I’m in a spot where I’m competing for a spot on the team. It’s nothing I haven’t been through before. I feel like a lot of people know what I have to offer here. It’s just whether or not they want it.”

Pompey has played 64 games with Toronto over the past four seasons. In 145 at bats he has hit .221. Last year, he was a big leaguer for just five games, during which he struck out six times in 11 at bats. He has great speed, but offensively it’s rather useless if he can’t get on base.

Pompey was having what manager Charlie Montoyo called a “good camp” when he fouled a ball off his knee last week. He was finally able to get back into action on Wednesday, hitting leadoff and going 0-for-4.

“It’s good now,” he said of the knee. “It hit a nerve or something … kind of had like dead foot. I’ve done it many times. But never when my foot stopped working. That’s when I got a little bit concerned. It took a couple of days to come back, but I’m good now.”

In 24 spring at bats, Pompey is hitting .250 with one homer, four RBIs, one stolen base and eight strikeouts.

If he’s going to crack the squad, he’s likely going to have to pick up the pace.

Not including the obvious minor-league guys, there are seven outfielders still with the Jays, with three, likely four, having a lock on a job. After Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk, Teoscar Hernandez and Billy McKinney, left battling are Anthony Alford, Jonathan Davis and Pompey. Davis will eventually be ticketed for Buffalo. Alford has had a strong spring. It’s close between he and Pompey, Alford has options, so Pompey might prevail because of his status and the fact the Jays would rather not lose him. If not, another team will certainly give him a chance.

“I hope so,” said Pompey. “I’ve been in this game for a while now. I feel like scouts and front office people know exactly what I bring to the table. It’s just whether they want that on the team or not at this point.

“I’m going to continue to come out here and try to impress my teammates and my new coaching staff, and just try to come out here and do whatever I can.”

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